A Nebraska law approved last year with no debate has set the nation's highest bar for independent candidates to qualify for statewide races such as governor and U.S. Senate, contradicting the state's history of downplaying partisan politics.

A ballot measure that could reinstate Nebraska's death penalty survived a legal challenge before the state Supreme Court on Friday when justices rejected arguments that Gov. Pete Ricketts should have been listed as a sponsor.

Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed a bill Tuesday that would make Nebraska the first traditionally conservative state in more than four decades to abolish the death penalty, sending it back to lawmakers who will attempt an override.